Samsung has just overtaken Motorola and is now the leading mobile phone supplier in the US market, according to US research firm Strategy Analytics. In the latest quarter (Q3), Samsung had 22.4% of the market, ahead of Motorola (21.1%) and another Korean company, LG Electronics (20.5%). According to Reuters:

"Samsung's growing retail presence and an attractive high-tier handset portfolio for all of the big four operators have proved crucial in grabbing the prestigious title of the No 1 vendor in the world's single largest handset market," analyst Bonny Joy said in a statement.

Update: In response to a comment from slabman (Bigger than China?), I asked Bonny Joy, who responded: "In terms of revenue US is the biggest market, 2008 revenues are expected to be at 25 Billion USD." In passing, Research in Motion had 10.2% of the US market while Apple, with just one handset, had 5.7%. When I talked to Microsoft recently for a Technology cover story, Alex Reeve extolled Samsung's Omnia models, which run Windows Mobile 6.1. They also have 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with image stabilisation, and Wi-Fi. The new T-Omnia, available only in South Korea, has a 3.3 inch 480 x 800 WVGA touch screen and DMB, so users can watch mobile TV. Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer turned up for the launch in Seoul on November 3.

The original Omnia -- which has a 3.2 inch 240 x 400 WQVGA touch screen -- is available in Europe and will reach the US soon, if it hasn't already.